Insect-harvester.



S. H. PIERCE.

INSECT HARVESTER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18. 191B.

. 292 71 Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

9b IN TOR S. H. PIERCE.

INSECT HARVESTER.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAR. 18, 1918.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAMUEL HAMLIN PIERCE, 01? DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD T WINFIELD SCOTT PIERCE, OF FREEPORT, MAINE, AND ONE-THIRD TO WALTER DE WITT KEMP,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification of Letters Patent.

INSECT-HARVESTER.

Application filed March 18, 1918. Serial No. 223,038.

To all whom it may concern:

the same to 'be deposited in a suitable receptacle removably mounted to permit replacing when filled.

'In a more intense aspect, my invention comprises the provision on a suitable vehicle of a funnel suitably supported on the vehicle having its axis disposed substantially parallel to the line of travel of the vehicle with its walls diverging in a forward direction, means within said funnel, preferably comprising a fan or blower, for creating a suction within the funnel, and means at the rear end of the funnel for filtering the sucked air and receiving and depositing the insects within a suitably removable receptacle;

My invention furthermore consists of the features of construction and'arrangement of parts hereinafter specified and depicted in the accompanying drawings which form part 1 of this disclosure.

In said drawings,

Figure l is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2, the rear part of the vehicle being cut away;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the funnel; and

Fig. 5 1s a section on the line 55 of Feferring now to these drawings, 1 indicates the chassis of a motor vehicle on the forward part of which is mounted a suction device 2 comprising as illustrated, a funnel 3 having its axis disposed in the line of travel of the vehicle and having its walls diverging forwardly from an intermediate point 2 to an open mouth or entrance 3.

Suitable means for creating a suction of air through the mouth of said funnel and for filtering the sucked air to free the same from insects are provided, and I also preferably provide suitable rotating means for scraping the air filtering device to remove the insects therefrom and deposit the same in a suitable removable receptacle.

As illustrated the suction device comprises in combination with the funnel 3 a shaft 5 suita'bly supported axially in suitable bearings 6 and 6 and propeller 0r blower blades 7 mounted thereon, and the air filtering means comprises a perforated drum 4 connected at the rear end of the funnel 3. Obviously when a current of air from the ground or contiguous stratum is sucked through the funnel 3, the insects carried by such air will be drawn into the drum 4 where the air is filtered through perforations 4* and the insects captured.

Suitable means for rotating the shaft 5 is provided, and, as shown said shaft is rotated from the motive power of the vehicle which comprises an engine 8, transmission case 9, power shaft 10 on which shaft is mounted driving sprockets 11 and 12, the sprocket 11 having a chain drive 13 meshin with a sprocket 14 mounted on the wheel axle 15, while the sprocket 12 has a chain drive 16 with a sprocket 17 mounted on a shaft 18 to which is fixed a bevel pinion 19 which meshes with another bevel pinion .20 fixed on the axial shaft 5.

' It' is desirable to provide means for scraping or brushing the insects from the wall of the filterin chamber 4 and for this purpose I preferably provide a brush 21, mounted to rotate within said chamber and, as shown, rotated from the shaft 5 by arms 22- fixed to said shaft by collars 23.

The filtering chamber 4, has a depending hopper 4P connected at its lower portion and a removable receptacle such as the basket 2 1 is suitably supported beneath said hopper.

Suitable means for steering the vehicle and for seating the, driver are provided and for this purpose, I provide a single wheel 25 mounted in a forked bearing 26, journaled intermediate the side edges of the vehiclechassis, as at 27, and this forked bearing is provided with a sprocket wheel 28, meshmg with a sprocket chain 29 which meshes with another sprocket wheel 30 mounted on a steering shaft 31, which is pivoted in any suitable way in the chassis and has at its upper end a hand wheel to permit the operator to steer the vehicle A "se'at 32- is:-als0 providedin the rear of the steering shaft {for the driver.

Various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be made within the scope :of the claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. p

I claim 1. In anainsect harvester, the combination with a suitable vehicle and .ineans forniov ing the samea-inuonei direction, of aiunnelgopen .at its forward:., end ,with its axis; dis-1 posed substantially parallel to the ,line not travel of the vehicle and itszwalls diverg ing in a forward "direction to project suitable distance beyond the forward-,end of the vehicleand to provide-aniopening disposed in a substantially, vertical 'planewg and mounted on said ,vehicle,. means for causing a suctionthroughsaid funnelin the: opposite} direction, a perforated 'receiving; chamber at. the inner ,end of .said.\funne1 having a delivery aperture and a recepta; cle communicating Withsaid aperture.

2. In an insect harvester, the combination, with a suitablevehicle andlmeans forymg ing the same in one direction, ot a, frinnel open at .itsforward end with its; axis l dis- I, posed substantially parallel. to the line t travel of the -lvehicle, anditsi wallSi-diitrgingina forward direction to project-asuit; v able distance beyond theforwardrend of the. i vehicle and to: providean opening disposed, in a substantially} vertical plane andmount; ed on said vehicle, means ior causing a s nction a through; said funnel. in; the opposite, ,di;

rection, a perforated, receiving chamber at the innerendof said f unnel having a deliv;, ery aperture, a I receptacle; communicating with said-,uaperture, and means within: said,

plane means afor ..;causi11g, a suction. through said funnel inrth'e' opposite; direction, a perforated receiving; chan beig, cylindrical .in

cross I SeCtlQ11,,, 2LI1Clhaving a delivery aper;

tune, vitherilside wall thereofi a, ;br.ush.-l,ro-.

tating within said chamber andqlcontacting with the .wallthereof, and a removable receptacle'for said insects communicating with said aperture.

4C- Aninsect harvest-er, embodying incombination a ,suitab;le vehicle; a suitable .zfnnnel, .means for supporting said funnel at the .r forward ;endfof saidl vehicle, wi'thfits open 170 end, forw-ardfa shaftlextending; lo ngijrudii.

nallyljvvitliin? saidfuimel, blades n ountedj on said shaft to suck 'airthrough 'saidj.; f;ui1ne1',.

a receivin drum communicating with the m-Ga Q id, u nelrpro ddivi ha side-J .75 tending.,thel'etlirongh, tbrushe's mounted on said shaft and contacting With' (the 'waI1- ,of 1

delivery. apertuige .andfhavin'g saidisha'ft 'exf.

said. vchamloer, "and hineans "for wrotatingl said.

p en e of tw sub c ib ng W es) SAMUELIQHISMLIINI PIERCE; 15 1,. 5.

e name 1 to the qforegoin gi specification in the Copies of thispatent may be obtalneflgfor five gents each, py ag'ldrea ing themnimianionerxag mama; Wasntnatomm @f" 

